Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-26
TmE TExAsINvEsrroArroS.
More Testimony Before she senate
Sub-Committee.
by telegraph to tho Dispanh.I'

wore tcsttmony before the Senate
subcommittee.
by telegraph TO tho Dispatch.I
WAsHINoToS, February 25.-The
Texas investigation WAS resumed TO.
day, and John II. Roberts (white), a
farmer, aged forty nine, and native of
Washington county, was the first wit.
ness. Votes at Graball the Peoples
ticket in 1894 was got up by the best
citizens Of both parties to protect them
selves againstthe "venality, corruption,
and stealing" Of the Republican county
administrations. Witness saidfhe gene
ral belief among white and colored peo-
pie was that the negroes who were ar
rested assassinated Bolton.
On cross-examination the witness
said that the general reputation of
Hackwcrth, Moore, and Schultz, the
mcmOrialists, was as bad as could be
that they got the negroes together at
night in "owl meetings, as they were
called, and delivered inflaminatory
speeches to them. He said these meet
ings were held late ut night, after good
people had gone to bed; that the
Democratic citizens in the county,
farmers, went TO bed usually about 8
o'clock at night, like good, honest men.
"The Republicans" he said, didn't
90 to bed at all during political can
vass."
Hugh NJ. Lewis, white, aged forty, a
native of Brennan, and county clerk of
Washington county since 1876, and a
Democrat, was the next witness. He
testified that he had been elected five
times in succession; always got large
number of white and colored Republi-
can votes. Hackwortb, one Of the me
morialists, was justice of the peace,
and the county record shows that he
LET contracts for building bridges
to his own father at exorbtant
prices under adjudication, the prices
were cut down to about 30 per cent of
the contract prices. Witness described
the contracts let by Justice Hackworth
TO his father and brother-in-law as
outrageous. - Hackworth was in
dicted six times for malefeasance and ex-
tortion in Office.
Mr.. Eustis put in evidence the in
dictments and proceedings against
Hackworth. He was acquitted on one
Indictment and the others were
quashed.
Henry Mueller, editor and Publisher
of German Republican newspaper at
BRENNAN, was examined by Senator
Eustis. He was Union soldier through
out the rebellion, and is drawing pen
sion. He testified that the reputation
of Hackworth and Schutze memorial
ists) was not good.
Witness supported the State Repub-
lican ticket but opposed the county
ticket. Hackworth's political actions,
witness thought, were bad. His con-
duct in Office was such as to deprive
him of the support of many Republi-
cans, and his standing was not good for
solvency. A Republican could vote and
act with his followers without molesta-
ton in Washington county. Witness
did not believe the three memOrialists
were driven from the county and
thought they went of their own free
will. He said he had not heard Of their
being warned to leave.
W. W. Searcy, attorney at law and
chairman of Washington county Demo
cratic Executive Committee for the last
SIX years, testified that the Peoples
ticket was formed for the purpose of
Kidding taxpayers of the thieves who
had lived there like vipers upon the
taxpayers substance for the last twenty
years. Witness, with some excitement,
enumerated -four instances of Republi-
can mismanagement of the county eye-
nues. The reputation Of the memo
rialists was not good in the county.
Hackworth could live i'll Washington
county, but, witness said, his reputa
ton was such that he could get but lit
tie business. 1t was believed in the
county that Schutze accepted brides
while county attorney. The only OBJ
lection to Moore was the character of
his specches-sociaI equality and the
like.
f. A. Engelke. president of the First
National Bank of Brennan, had always
been a Republican in national politics,
but supported the Peoples county
ticket, which was formed because of the
wasting of the county revenues Wit
ness knew of no reason why q man
should leave the county simply because
he was a Republican. He knew Of no
instance of IL mans personal or business
relations being interfered with on ac-
count of politics. Hackworth and
Schutze's reputation were not good.
He knew of nothingagainst Moore, and
believed him to be good citizen. The
three memonalists, witness believed,
could still live i'll Washington county
and peacefully pursue their calling. If
in their places witness would have left
the county. They were not liked, and
could not 90 in good society. Although
a strong Republican he believed i'll
white men holding offices because the
negroes were too uneducated to rule.
+. Reichardt, a businessman of Bren-
ham and a Democrat, testified that
Hackworth and Schutze would not pay
their debts. They were deeply in debt,
and had no business to make any mo
ney out of. They were not forced to
leave and could still live there.